Bridge connectors employing flexible planar bodies having signal pathways coupling control devices with biometric sensors

Abstract

Bridge connectors employing flexible planar bodies having signal pathways coupling control devices with biometric sensors are disclosed. Sensors are placed in contact with a patient to detect a health condition and generate an output signal based on the health condition. A control device is linked to the sensors to receive the output signal for collection, analysis, storage, display, and/or subsequent transfer. A bridge connector includes a planar body with predetermined flexibility and signal pathways extending between data ports. By removably coupling the bridge connector to the control device and the sensors secured to the patient, the control device may be physically supported by the patient with minimal discomfort and low-cost biometric sensors may be used. In this manner, sensor replacement costs are reduced and the useful lives of the sensors can be maximized as the designed flexibility of the bridge connector facilitates removable coupling with the biometric sensors.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bridge connector for coupling a control device to at least one biometric sensor, comprising:
 a flexible planar body comprising:
 a first surface; 
 a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the first and second surfaces are separated by a portion of the flexible planar body; 
 at least one signal pathway interconnecting a first data port from the first surface to a second data port at the second surface according to a predetermined relationship; 
 a flex circuit arranged between the first and second surfaces, the flex circuit comprising both: (i) the at least one signal pathway extending within the flex circuit to carry electrical signals and (ii) a substrate configured to support the at least one signal pathway and comprising an opening; and 
 a structural member arranged between the flex circuit and the second surface; 
 
 a first and second mechanical fastener, wherein the first mechanical fastener extends through the flex circuit at the opening and couples with the second mechanical fastener; and 
 wherein the first data port at the first surface is configured to be removably coupled to the control device using the first and second mechanical fasteners, the second data port at the second surface is configured to be removably coupled to the at least one biometric sensor, and the first and second data ports are configured to exchange biometric data between the data ports through the at least one signal pathway within the flex circuit and according to the predetermined relationship. 
 
     
     
       2. The bridge connector of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible planar body has a modulus of elasticity in a range from a half megapascal to eight (8) megapascals. 
     
     
       3. The bridge connector of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible planar body is configured to support the control device. 
     
     
       4. The bridge connector of  claim 1 , wherein the second data port at the second surface comprises a third mechanical fastener configured to removably couple with an electrocardiogram (ECG) electrode. 
     
     
       5. The bridge connector of  claim 1 , wherein the at last one signal pathway comprises a conductive material configured to exchange the biometric data in a form of an electrical signal. 
     
     
       6. The bridge connector of  claim 1 , wherein the first data port at the first surface comprises the first mechanical fastener configured to removably interface with a plug of the control device. 
     
     
       7. The bridge connector of  claim 1 , wherein the second data port at the second surface comprises a third mechanical fastener configured to removably interface with a mechanical connector of the at least one biometric sensor. 
     
     
       8. The bridge connector of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the flexible planar body comprises a thickness in a range from one-hundred microns to five millimeters. 
     
     
       9. The bridge connector of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible planar body comprises a first plurality of data ports at the first surface, including the first data port, and a second plurality of data ports at the second surface, including the second data port, and wherein the predetermined relationship is a one-to-one relationship connecting each of the data ports at the first surface with a respective one of the data ports at the second surface. 
     
     
       10. The bridge connector of  claim 9 , wherein a location pattern of the first plurality of data ports on the first surface is different from a location pattern of the second plurality data ports on the second surface. 
     
     
       11. The bridge connector of  claim 9 , wherein two of the data ports on the second surface are separated by a distance from sixty (60) millimeters to one-hundred millimeters. 
     
     
       12. The bridge connector of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the second data port at the second surface comprises a third mechanical fastener configured to removably interface with a mechanical connector of the at least one biometric sensor, and wherein the third mechanical fastener originates between the structural member and the flex circuit. 
 
     
     
       13. The bridge connector of  claim 12 , wherein the third mechanical fastener comprises a female socket. 
     
     
       14. A medical device for receiving biometric data from a patient, comprising:
 at least one biometric sensor for measuring the biometric data of the patient and configured to generate an output signal including the biometric data; 
 a control device for receiving the output signal; 
 a bridge connector for coupling the control device to at least one biometric sensor, comprising: 
 a flexible planar body comprising:
 a first surface; 
 a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the first and second surfaces are separated by a portion of the flexible planar body; 
 at least one signal pathway interconnecting a first data port from the first surface to a second data port at the second surface according to a predetermined relationship; 
 a flex circuit arranged between the first and second surfaces, the flex circuit comprising both: (i) the at least one signal pathway extending within the flex circuit to carry electrical signals and (ii) a substrate configured to support the at least one signal pathway and comprising an opening; and 
 a structural member arranged between the flex circuit and the at least one biometric sensor; 
 
 a first and second mechanical fastener, wherein the first mechanical fastener extends through the flex circuit at the opening and couples with the second mechanical fastener; and 
 wherein the first data port at the first surface is configured to be removably coupled to the control device using the first and second mechanical fasteners, the second data port at the second surface is configured to be removably coupled to the at least one biometric sensor, and the first and second data ports are configured to exchange the biometric data between the data ports through the at least one signal pathway within the flex circuit and according to the predetermined relationship. 
 
     
     
       15. The medical device of  claim 14 ,
 wherein the second data port at the second surface comprises a third mechanical fastener configured to removably interface with a mechanical connector of the at least one biometric sensor, and wherein the third mechanical fastener originates between the structural member and the flex circuit. 
 
     
     
       16. The medical device of  claim 15 , wherein the third mechanical fastener comprises a female socket. 
     
     
       17. A method of receiving biometric data from a patient, comprising:
 measuring the biometric data of the patient using at least one biometric sensor; 
 generating an output signal including the biometric data, using the at least one biometric sensor; 
 receiving the output signal at a control device, using a bridge connector coupling the control device to the at least one biometric sensor, the bridge connector comprising:
 a flexible planar body comprising:
 a first surface; 
 a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the first and second surfaces are separated by a portion of the flexible planar body; 
 at least one signal pathway interconnecting a first data port from the first surface to a second data port at the second surface according to a predetermined relationship; 
 a flex circuit arranged between the first and second surfaces, the flex circuit comprising both: (i) the at least one signal pathway extending within the flex circuit to carry electrical signals and (ii) a substrate configured to support the at least one signal pathway and comprising an opening; and 
 a structural member arranged between the flex circuit and the at least one biometric sensor; and 
 
 a first and second mechanical fastener, wherein the first mechanical fastener extends through the flex circuit at the opening and couples with the second mechanical fastener; and 
 
 wherein the first data port at the first surface is configured to be removably coupled to the control device using the first and second mechanical fasteners, the second data port at the second surface is configured to be removably coupled to the at least one biometric sensor, and the first and second data ports are configured to exchange the biometric data between the data ports through the at least one signal pathway within the flex circuit and according to the predetermined relationship. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the flexible planar body has a modulus of elasticity in a range from a half megapascal to eight (8) megapascals. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the flexible planar body comprises a first plurality of data ports at the first surface, including the first data port, and a second plurality of data ports at the second surface, including the second data port, and wherein the predetermined relationship is a one-to-one relationship connecting each of the data ports at the first surface with a respective one of the data ports at the second surface. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein a location pattern of the first plurality of data ports on the first surface is different from a location pattern of the second plurality data ports on the second surface.